The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-12-24
A WONDERFUL CASE.
A Man Supplied With Artificial
Vocal Organs.
An Ingenious Substitute for a
Lost Larynx.

| aiions III the history OF surgery Is now
being performed at the New York hos
pital by DR.. Bull, one of Americas mos
noted surgeons. He has removed &
mans larynx and vocal organs, and i
now perfecting machine whereby the
patient will be able to articulate in &
loud voice
About six months ago William Viii.
son, an engineer of Newburgh, N. Y,
who is undergoing this painful but
heroic operation, experienced a diff
Guilty in breathing. He thought at first
that it was some throat affection caused
by cold, hut the trouble increased at
such a rate that he felt it expedient to
come to New York and consult DR.. Bull.
1t is fortunate that he did, for had he
delayed two days he would have been a
dead man. As it was, he was in danger
of suffocation.
DIR. Bull thought that Mr.. Wilson was
suffering from a papillary growth in the
larynx, the same disease that the crown
prince of Germany was under treatment
in England for. The operation of ira
cheotomy was performed by cutting an
oritice In his windpipe and passing a
silver tube into the lungs. thus allowing
the man to breathe through this me-
dunn. When it was necessary to feed
him, this opening was plugged up with
a rubber cork. The larynx was also
opened at this time, scraped out and
cauterized.
Mr.. Wilson went home apparently in
good health and experiencing no diff
Guilty with his new breathing machinery.
He did not enjoy his freedom from pain
very long, however, for he returned in
three weeks with his throat in a worse
condition than at first. The wound was
opened and piece of the papillary
growth examined under microscope.
1t was learned that Mr.. Wilson was suf-
ferlng from cancer of the larynx. DR..
Bull then decided to remove the whole
larynx, and with the assistance of DR..
Weir five weeks ago performed a most
successful operation. Mr.. Wilson, who
is man sixty-two years of age, stood
the ordeal bravely, but it was decided
to put him under the influence of eth r
The surgeons cut an incision down
the median line of the neck perpendicu-
arly over what is known as Adams an
pie. The wound being we'll sponged,
The delicate task Of removing two inches
Of the mans larynx was then under
aiken. 1t was cut off just above the
rachea and below the epiglottis, and
he piece removed. 1t resembles in al
'ohol piece of macaroni half as large
IS mans thumb, and about as long.
The wound was packed with an anti
eptic dressing that stopped the flow of
blood and tended to heal the cut. Food
vas then administered to him by means
# hard rubber tube passing into the
mouth. through the esophagus and into
he stomach. Two weeks ago a tube
vas attached to the tracheal tube on the
inside of the orifice in his throat. This
ubc passed upward into the back part
the mouth, partly filling the cavity
hat was formerly occupied by the
lrynx.
After this tube was put into his mouth
lr. Wilson couil talk with his tongue
nd lips, but his articulation was very
INIT. Then after this tube was inserted |
was necessary to put a plug in the
pper end of the tube whenever he
ished to eat; for without a plug his
cd, instead of following the natural
lannel to the stomach, would lodge in
e tube. DR.. Bull thereupon inserted
bber ball that closely fitted the orifice.
his accomplished the desired result in
at direction. Then the plug was with
lawn from the other, or tracheal tube, =
ereby allowing the man to breathe and
t at the same time.
Having performed these astonishing
so successfully, DR.. Bull c
ought he would 60 further and pro- t
de the man with talking apparatus, t
eng that he had cut away all his vocal s
gans. He is accomplishing his purpose i.
a wonderfully clever manner, mas a
ach as he has made hollow plug to fit f
c tube that runs into the mouth. In h